Resilient cushioning support for chairs or the like



M. HELLER Nov. 13, 195] RESILIENT CUSHIONING SUPPORT FOR CHAIRS OR THE LIKE [nun Z07";

Filed Oct. 7, 1947 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 OFFICE RESILIENTCUS'HIONING SUPPORT FOR 'GHAIRSOR THE LIKE Mailim i-lianilleller, London,-..Eng land r Application'octob'erl, 1947; Serial No. '778',519'- InGreat Britain October 24,1946

The present invention relates toacushioning support for chairs, settees, divans; bed insets, vehicle seats 1 or the like- (hereinafter referred to as chair or thelike) andhas forits object the provision of a-reliable: simple and-exceptionally resilient structure.

According to the invention'thereis provideda resilient cushioning support forchairs or the like comprising 7 in combination a rigid support frame wherein an essentallycentrally positioned member madeofinextensible material is held suspended solely by a number of oppositely arranged tensionedtensil'e springs'extending di rectlyfrom the central'member'to the=four cor ners ofa rectangular area onsaid frame; there being at least two such springsateaoh saidcornor-radiating divergently therefrom towards I the central member, the wholeconstruction being such that saidcushionsupport constituted "by' the central member and suspension springs extends across a comparatively large s'urfacearea-with out being linked to --the' intermediate portionsof said support frame and provid'es its greatest'de-- gree of resilient support at and around the central member.

The structure in accordance with this present invention allowsof attachment in an elevated position relative-to the-substructureofia frame and also enables the formation .of' raised sprung edges.

The invention further comprises various other features and forms of constructions which will appear from the following-description made-with reference to the' accompanying; drawin which illustrates the invention by-wayof example and in which: i

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a cushioning supportin-accordance with this invention.

- Fig. 2 isa modification. of 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an armchainand Fig. 4 illustrates three adjoining cushioning supports.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a cushioning support for a seat or back of a chair or the like in which a comparatively small and centrically positioned member a is held suspended by means of oppositely arranged and tensioned bearer springs b the latter forming V-shaped structures the digerging end portions of said structure being secured to said member a whilst the apices of said V structures are anchored at hooks 0, eyes, studs or like attachment fixtures provided at the four corners of the frame. The frame is rigid or substantially rigid and may be as shown in Figure 3, being shaped so that the anchorage parts to which the attachment fixtures c; are secured are located at the corners of; a: substantially rectangular area across which the cushioningsupport extends.

Each of the'individual bearer springs bis by wayofexamplecomposed of a plurality of com ponent springs" linked together end to end or;

connectedby means of intermediary rings, eyes,

discs-'- or like links d; and the joints of said componentsprings are employed forengaging and holdinginiposition panel-filling elements econ sisting ofropes; chains, tensile'springs, bands'or the'like. The elements emaybe attached at said links (1 or mayipass through the latter so as toform zig-zag, or like designs, orsaidelementse zmay' be arranged in aspider-web-like manner: as by way ofv example illustrated in-this, figure- Themember a may consist of plates, rings, sheets or the like and maybe composed of wood; metal, plastic compositions, inextensible'fabric or like material.

Fig. 2 isa modification-of'Fig. 1 in which the bearer springs I) extend in a continuous stretch. Between the. opposing attachment-fixtures c are strung-terminalsprings j to form resilient edges modem or more ofthe latter may be provided with elements g consisting of springs or of any suitable flexible or elastic material, said elements g-serving for sub-dividing the open spaces between theterminal springs f and member a. The bearer springs b extend in an essentially diagonal direction following the most efficient course of the, pull exerted by said bearer springs 12 at the member a when the cushioning support is occupied.

To prevent overcrowing and overstraining of the fixtures c by securing a number of springs to a single-one of said fixtures, each of the four anchorage parts of the frame may be provided withranplurality of attachment-fixtures c, the frame being, for example, as shown in Figure 3 with the anchorage parts at the corners of a substantially rectangular area across which the cushioning support extends.

In order to still further increase the comfort, the springs employed in one unit may differ from each other relative to their strength, diameter or tension e. g. springs b may be made of a heavier gauge and may be more tensioned when mounted than springs f, or the latter forming the seatfront edge of a chair may be more powerful than the spring or springs f constituting the rear edge of the same seat. In this manner the elastic resistance of units in accordance with this invention may be regulated and adjusted according to requirements.

The arm-chair shown in Fig. 3 illustrates the mode of raising the cushioning support above the sub-structure of arigid or substantially rigid tubular frame so as to extend freely over a substantially rectangular seat or back area. Each of the two sets shown is secured only to four anchorage parts of the frame by means of attachment fixtures c and forms a coherent unit which is cap- 1- able of a highly resilient performance when occupied.

The comfort attained by the cushioning support in accordance with this invention is infinitely greater than with tension spring arrangements in which the springs are anchored to the interior portions of the side members of frames sincein the latter case the anchorages of the springs hamper the elastic movement of the support on occupation.

Fig. 4 illustrates an assembly comprising three adjoining cushioning supports in accordance with the present invention. Each support extends over a substantially rectangular area and is secured through attachment fixtures c to a rigid or substantially rigid frame having pillars to which the fixtures can be secured as in Figure 3. The terminal springs j are shown to be composed of a number of component springs having intermediate their ends strips 11. or the like, the latter extending over the width and length of the entire surface of said adjoining cushioning supports. In order to reduce open spaces in this structure resilient or flexible strips 1 are employed the opposing ends of said strips i being 1..

provided with tension springs 7 the latter being secured to the fixtures c. The strips it may be of metal, plywood, plastic, or the like, which materials and also webbing are suitable for the strips 2'.

I claim:

1. A resilient cushion support for a chair or the like extending across a substantially rectangular area within a rigid frame, comprising a plurality of tensile springs, a substantially centrally positioned member solely suspended by said tensile springs the latter being oppositely tensioned when mounted, said substantially centrally positioned member being made of inextensible material and at least two of said springs extending directly and convergently from said central member to each corner of said rectangular area, the whole construction being such that said cushion support constituted by said central member and said suspension springs extends across a comparatively large area and provides its greatest degree of resilient support at and around the central member.

2. A resilient cushion support for a chair or the like extending across a substantially rectangular area within a rigid frame, comprising a plurality of tensile springs, a substantially centrally positioned member solely suspended by said tensile springs the latter being oppositely tensioned when mounted, said substantially centrally positioned member being made of inextensible material and at least two of said springs extending directly and convergently from said central member to each comer of said rectangular area, at least one of the ends of said cushion support having a tensioned marginal tensile spring having its opposing ends secured at two of said corners, said marginal spring forming a freely oscillatingedge, at least one flexible element extending between and interconnecting said marginal spring and said central member, the whole construction being such that said cushion support constituted by said central member, said suspension springs, said marginal spring and said flexible element form a coherent unit extending across a comparatively large area and provides its greatest degree of resilient support at and around the central member.

3. A plurality of resilient cushion supports as claimed in claim 2, said supports adjoining each other and forming a unitary supporting surface.

4. In an article of furniture the combination comprising a substantially rigid frame, attachment fixtures secured to said frame at the corners of a substantially rectangular area within said frame, a plurality of main tensile springs each having an end secured to one of said attachment fixtures, a substantially centrally positioned member maintained-in position by said main tensile springs, each of said main tensile springs having an end secured to said members, said main tensile springs being under tension when mounted and at least two of said main tensile springs extending convergently from said member to each of said attachment fixtures, the arrangement being such that said springs and said member form a coherent cushion support extending across said rectangular area and providing very effective and resilient support at and around said central member.

MAEMILIAN HELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fil'e' of this patent: 

